BWCR spokeswoman Katie Jane Lloyd said the staff was shocked when they first saw the colored kittens."Here at BCWR Kittens, we often consider ourselves to be unshockable, we have dealt with most situations but this is a first," she told SWNS. "This is a dreadful act of cruelty and who knows what untelling damage this may have caused."

Facebook/ Bradford Cat Watch Rescue

Lloyd said when the kittens arrived at the Centre they were shell-shocked, lethargic and had breathing difficulties.

Bradford Cat Watch / SWNS

Since arriving, the kittens, now named "Smurf" and "Shrek," have been given numerous baths to remove the ink.

Lloyd said the cats are having a hard time feeding and believes they both have mouth ulcers and respiratory problems as well.

As awful as the cats look, Lloyd is more concerned about potential damages the ink might cause to their internal organs. Permanent ink is known to be toxic and cats lick their fur to clean themselves.

Glen Minikin SWNS

"We have sought veterinary advice and I have just contacted the poisons unit to ascertain what would be safe to use on them to try to remove the ink," she said.

And Lloyd believes "Smurf" and "Shrek" may not be alone. She suspects the kittens were colored for a cruel sport known as dog-baiting, where kittens are thrown into a ring of aggressive dogs. Bettors guess which creature will be killed first. The kitten victims are colored in advance of the match to make it easier to determine the "winner."

Glen Minikin SWNS

"This is not just a couple of idiots coloring in kittens. This is serious barbaric cruelty," she said. "If these kittens were not rescued I am sure they would have been dead within an hour of two."

However, Lloyd admitted to the Telegraph and Argus she had "absolutely no evidence" about the dog-baiting theory.

West Yorkshire Police were not immediately available to comment on whether an investigation is under way.

Rescuing these two kittens has taken so much work that the Centre predicts a $5,800 vet bill this month alone.

Kittens Found Covered In Ink May Have Been ‘Bait’ In Cruel Blood Sport

Animals In The News

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Smooth Skate

When Maria Lombard found this bizarre-looking creature off the shore of Waitarere Beach, New Zealand, she thought it might be a dragon. It was actually the remains of a smooth skate, a creature similar to a sting ray.